CANBERRA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government is poised to introduce stricter English language standards for international university students.
Fairfax Media reported on Friday that Dan Tehan, the minister for education, has directed his department to work on proposals to tighten rules around language standards and improve the mental health and wellbeing of international students.
It comes after the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported earlier in May that multiple universities have ignored their own English standards in order to admit more high-paying international students.
According to Fairfax, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) -- the independent regulator of universities -- in March called on Tehan to introduce stricter standards for academic foundation courses, which are a common pathway to university enrolment for international students.
The government in 2018 introduced tougher standards for intensive English language courses that give students direct entry to university and TEQSA now wants "similar" provisions for the foundation courses.
However, TEQSA Chief Executive Anthony McClaran told Fairfax that the current rules are largely "adequate" and there is "little evidence to suggest that there is systemic failure" of the current standards.
The wellbeing and mental health of international students has become a major. A coroner's report called for the government to work on providing mental health support for international students -- a recommendation that Tehan agreed with.
"I have tasked my department with undertaking a national consultation on international student mental health and wellbeing in April and May 2019," he said at the time.
